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2024-2025 Catalog

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Dental Hygiene

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Associate in Applied Science in Dental Hygiene

81 Credit Hours

The dental hygienist is a licensed primary health care professional, oral health educator and clinician who, as co-therapist with the dentist, provides preventive, educational and therapeutic services supporting total health for the control of oral diseases and the promotion of oral health. Dental hygiene positions are available in general and specialty dental practices, community health centers and hospitals, as well as federal programs, the armed services and dental product promotion.

The curriculum, which includes both general education and professional dental hygiene courses, is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association. Graduates are eligible to sit for the Dental Hygiene National Board Exam and individual state board examinations for licensure.

Accreditation

Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental Association
211 East Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611-2678

General Education Core Curriculum

ENG 101 English Composition I 3
MAT 110 College Algebra 3
or
MAT 120 Probability and Statistics 3
PSY 201 General Psychology 3
SPC 205 Public Speaking 3
or
SPC 209 Interpersonal Communication 3

REQ HUM Select from Humanities 3

Total:   15

Major Requirements

AHS 113 Head and Neck Anatomy 1
BIO 210 Anatomy and Physiology I 4
BIO 211 Anatomy and Physiology II 4
BIO 225 Microbiology 4
CHM 105 General Organic and Biochemistry 4
DHG 115 Medical and Dental Emergencies 2
DHG 121 Dental Radiography 3
DHG 125 Tooth Morphology and Histology 2
DHG 140 General and Oral Pathology 2
DHG 141 Periodontology 2
DHG 143 Dental Pharmacology 2
DHG 154 Pre-Clinical Dental Hygiene 4
DHG 165 Clinical Dental Hygiene I 5
DHG 175 Clinical Dental Hygiene II 5
DHG 230 Public Health Dentistry 3
DHG 231 Dental Health Education 1
DHG 239 Dental Assisting for the DHG 2
DHG 241 Integrated Dental Hygiene I 1
DHG 243 Nutrition and Dental Health 2
DHG 255 Clinical Dental Hygiene III 5
DHG 265 Clinical Dental Hygiene IV 5
SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology 3

Total:   66


Applicants will be admitted to this program on a first-qualified, first-admitted basis. Applicants are considered to be qualified for admission to the next available class when they meet all college and program requirements. Qualified applicants will be notified via my.tridenttech.edu email indicating the year that they have been admitted. Classes for the full-time format begin each Fall Semester.

 

In addition to meeting the college's general education admission requirements, including submission of official high school and college transcripts, APPLICANTS TO THE DHG PROGRAM MUST COMPLETE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:

  1. Complete the Health Sciences Application.
  2. Complete BIO 210 Anatomy and Physiology I, BIO 211 Anatomy and Physiology II, BIO 225 Microbiology, and CHM 105 General Organic and Biochemistry. 
    1. These courses must be completed with a minimum grade of C.
    2. These courses must have been taken within 5 years of acceptance into the program.
    3. The applicant must achieve a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA in the four required science courses listed.
  3. After submitting the Health Sciences Application, the student will receive details in their Trident Tech. email from the Health Sciences Admissions Coordinator regarding the Information Session and quiz. Students must achieve a 100% score on the online quiz following the session to verify the information was reviewed and  understood.
  4. Submit an Observation form to HealthSciencesAdmissions@tridenttech.edu documenting a minimum of 15 hours of observation of a licensed dental hygienist working in a dental practice. The applicant is responsible for the observation experience. Forms may be found on the TTC Health Sciences webpage.
  5. Submit a Statement of Completion form online. The link can be found on the Health Sciences webpage.

 

General Admission Procedures for the Dental Hygiene Program

  1. Students will be notified by my.tridenttech.edu email the date and time of the mandatory program orientation. Failure to attend will result in forfeiture of seat in the Dental Hygiene program.
  2. Students will be required to provide a complete, current Health Sciences – Student Health Record including all immunizations and titers, TB (PPD) tests, as well as current Healthcare Provider CPR certification, major medical insurance and medical professional liability coverage.

 

Note: Falsification of any information submitted will make a student ineligible for admission to or continuation in the Dental Hygiene program.


Course Progression

To progress to the next Dental Hygiene term/semester, the student must complete all courses required in the Dental Hygiene program with a grade of C or better. Student must earn a C or better in professional development for each course.